Unlocking the Secrets of Poetry: Analyzing Poems with Confidence

• English
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Unlocking the Secrets of Poetry: Analyzing Poems with Confidence

Learning Objective

At the end of these sessions on poetry,  you will be able to identify and analyse the following in a selection of poems :

• Theme
• Language
• Sound, Rhythm &  Rhyme
• Structure & Form
• Context

What poems and poets have you read or studied?

How do you start?

Step 1

Think about what the poem is actually saying. 

Consider:

• Title - what insight does this give you?
• Poet & Context - look at the poet's background and what was going on at the time of writing.
• Content - What is the poem about? What is the poet saying? Who is the speaker and what is the message?

How do you start?

Step 2

Then move on to consider:

• Structure - how is the poem set out on the page- look at the number and size of stanzas, the line lengths and use of punctuation.
• Form - does the poem follow a specific pattern(think about structure, rhythm and/or rhyme). Is it a sonnet, ballad or narrative poem?

What do you need to consider when you start to analyse a poem?

IMPORTANT!

Structure and Form

• Don't look at this in isolation. 
• Ask yourself how these have been used and how they link back to the meaning and message of the poem.

IMPORTANT!

Structure and Form

• Sonnet 
• Ballade
• Narrative Poem
• Free Verse Poem

www.bbc.co.uk

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How do you start?

Step 3 - Rhyme & Rhythm

Links closely to Step 2 (form and structure)

Is the rhyme & rhythm:

• regular, 
• irregular or unusual,
• none at all or do they change during the poem? 
• more importantly, how does this relate back to the meaning and message of the poem?

Interpreting the Poem's Theme

The theme is the central idea or message of the poem.

 It often reflects universal truths about life, emotions, or human experiences.

Exploring the Poem's Structure

Understanding the structure of a poem, such as:

•  stanzas, 
• line length,
• and rhyme scheme, provides insight into the poet's intention and the poem's impact.

Analyzing Poetic Devices

Poetic devices, such as:

•  similes,
• metaphors, 
• alliteration, 
• and personification, add depth and imagery to the poem. Identifying these devices enhances understanding.

Connecting Emotions and Imagery

Emotions conveyed in a poem are often intertwined with vivid imagery, creating a powerful impact on the reader. Analyzing these elements provides insight.

Formulating a Personal Response

After analyzing the poem's elements, form a personal response to the poem's meaning and message. Support your response with evidence from the text.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.